Why is hospice provided in an assisted living or skilled nursing facility?
Hospice is both a philosophy of care and a specialized type of health care. Hospice care is provided wherever an individual resides, including private houses, apartments, assisted living facilities or nursing homes.

Isn’t it a duplication of services to provide hospice care to assisted living or skilled nursing residents?
No, because hospice delivers a set of specific services at the end of life to residents and their families. End-of-life care is very different from general medical services and quite specialized.

Assisted living and skilled nursing facilities provide residential, custodial services just as a family would provide in a home setting, while hospice tends to the end-of-life needs of the resident. The roles of hospice and the facility are complementary yet distinct.

Is hospice paid twice for the care they provide in a facility?
No. Most hospice patients who reside in an assisted living or skilled nursing facility have third-party insurance (Medicaid or private insurance) or they pay out of pocket for their custodial care in the facility. Hospice is paid specifically to provide end-of-life care, which includes medical care, personal care, emotional support, spiritual care, volunteer companionship and grief support. Additionally, hospice provides medical equipment and medications for the terminal disease and related conditions.

Why can’t the assisted living or skilled nursing facility provide end-of-life services?
You or your loved one will receive optimal care with a partnership approach; by working together, we enhance the facility’s excellent services. Saint Mariam Hospice Services, Inc. is the expert in end-of-life pain and symptom management. Additionally, we provide grief support, on-going consultation and access to our on-call hospice staff. Families appreciate that Hospice offers an extra layer of care for their loved one. Our facility partners appreciate having additional clinical staff available to residents who may need extra care.

While many assisted living and skilled nursing facilities often provide rehabilitation services, dementia and long-term care, our staff are experts in comfort care. Hospice brings additional expertise to specifically enhance quality of life and comfort. This approach complements and layers seamlessly with the care provided in a facility.

In an assisted living or skilled nursing facility, hospice helps residents, families and facility staff by providing:

Regular visits by a Saint Mariam Hospice Services, Inc. registered nurse for expert management of pain and other symptoms, such as problems breathing or swallowing. Consultations by a specialized hospice physician are provided, as needed.

Regular visits by a Saint Mariam Hospice Services, Inc. certified nursing assistant for personal hygiene, such as bathing, grooming and eating, in addition to the care provided by the facility staff.

Emotional and spiritual support by a Saint Mariam Hospice Services, Inc. licensed social worker and chaplain for both the resident and their family.

Thirteen months of grief support from Saint Mariam Hospice Services, Inc. for family members and friends following the death of their loved one.

Education that focuses on the patient’s condition, symptoms, medications and how to best care for a patient’s medical needs during this phase of the illness.

Supplies and medications for the terminal illness and related conditions.

Coordination of the resident’s care and medications across all of the medical providers, including the resident’s own doctors, hospice doctors, hospice nurses, hospice aides and facility staff.